Eisenhower: Soldier and President (The Renowned One-Volume Life)

An insightful look at the life of what many believe is one of the greatest President these United States has ever had. I already knew that Ike was exceptionally popular during his presidency, and that he is the only Presdient to preside over peace and economic prosperity at the same time. What I did not know was how great of a foreign policy leader he was. His wartime leadership tailor made...more

An insightful look at the life of what many believe is one of the greatest President these United States has ever had. I already knew that Ike was exceptionally popular during his presidency, and that he is the only Presdient to preside over peace and economic prosperity at the same time. What I did not know was how great of a foreign policy leader he was. His wartime leadership tailor made him for it. Although he failed to end the Cold War as he set out to do when becoming President, he certainly did give it his best effort like no other may have been able to. I also learned that Ike's biggest downfall was domestic policy. He let the racial tension of this country carry over to the 1960's when he had opportunity's to work with Martin Luther King Jr., and to intervene on Brown vs. Board and tell Americans what was the right thing to do when it came to race in this country. HE certainly had the American people in his hand with their adoration and respect for him, but he did not play on it. He let it go without doing anything. He also did not see alot of value in NASA, even though he was a big supporter of them, therefor the space race was behind what it could have been. He was wildly popular for keeping the budget balanced fairly with his cuts and not raising taxes. For a war general, he cut national defense spending a and did not make it a priority which struck most, (and half a century later myself) odd. All in all, Ike was never intending to be President, but all circumstances led up to him being so popular from his leadership in WWII that the country literally wanted him to even though he never did. That is the kind of President I want today. The best leader who does not want to be president!   hide

Great profile of a great man, written by a truly great historian.

A fair biography of a good president. It's skimpy on details.

Stephen E. Ambrose has created an awesome biography about a man that realized his importance and task in a critical part of the history. Dwight Eisenhower was not necessary a great soldier, but a tremendous leader and general. He united the countries that was known as the allies(WWII), a task that was very difficult at that time. With his big smile and a well of energy and straight forwardness he...more

Stephen E. Ambrose has created an awesome biography about a man that realized his importance and task in a critical part of the history. Dwight Eisenhower was not necessary a great soldier, but a tremendous leader and general. He united the countries that was known as the allies(WWII), a task that was very difficult at that time. With his big smile and a well of energy and straight forwardness he motivated the soldiers to attack the beaches of Normandy with precision and rage. For his greatest military success was "Operation Overlord". The book gives the readers an insight of the life of a person that have to carry the big burden of responsibility, and how he later, at a relatively high age, went for the presidency. It shows how the tide can turn and how destiny brings a man from an average officer into the corridors of power. Stephen E. Ambrose has managed to involve Eisenhowers ups and downs in a good manner. Recommended for people that is interested in leadership.   hide

So far a great book!

Brilliantly displays Eisenhower's style of leadership.

Easy flowing read,provides an overview, but perhaps it tends to skirt issues - like its subject?

A fascinating and informative look into the life of one of our country's greatest leaders. This is a long read (took me 20 days at 2 hours a day) but is well worth it. Stephen Ambrose succeeds again. Pride, sadness, frustration...all emotions experienced and more while reading this book.

This semester has sort of slowed my reading but I have been enjoying Ambrose's writing as always.